The unnamed narrator is wholly unreliable. They failed to anticipate the ramifications of their subterfuge, and the fallout from their scheme is swift, far-reaching, and devastating. It seems like the perfect distraction until it all goes wrong.Īs the search for the killer proceeds, Downing ramps up the pace of the story. Eventually he became a myth, too large for life.” So they set in motion a plan to make the public and police believe that Owen Riley, the Woodview Killer, has returned. He disappeared, but became known as the “local monster, boogeyman, serial killer. But he was released from custody because the police failed to have the warrant signed by a judge before collecting critical evidence - a DNA sample. Eighteen years ago, Owen allegedly murdered nine women. So begins a game of cat and mouse in which the stakes could not be higher. And provides the first inkling that perhaps Millicent may not be trustworthy. That raises a plethora of questions about what has actually been going on for more than a year. Yet it is being reported that she was only dead for a few weeks before her body was discovered. But, more importantly, Lindsay supposedly died more than a year ago. The news is shocking for several reasons. As the story opens, the body of a murdered young woman, Lindsay, has been found and the case is dominating the headlines. But they are anything but normal, especially on “date night.”ĭowning weaves a tale about dark compulsions and the consequences of acting upon them. They support their children's school and sports activities, and have the occasional dinner with their friends, including his best friend, Andy Preston, and his wife, Trista, who takes tennis lessons at the club. She is a realtor and they have two children, Rory 14, and Jenna, 13. He and his striking wife, Millicent, have been married for 15 years.

The story is told by the husband, a tennis instructor at a country club. My Lovely Wife, the debut novel from Samantha Downing, is uniquely compelling exploration of a marital relationship.īy all outward appearances, they seem perfectly average. My lovely wife is a debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting. Ours just happens to be getting away with murder. We all have our secrets to keeping a marriage alive. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to have dinner with. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets.

The lovely wife book